Concaves for an agricultural combine

ABSTRACT

A concave for an agricultural combine includes first and second frames connected together for movement between closed and open positions. The first frame includes curved members axially spaced from one another, and bars each movable between a first position removably connected to the first frame and a second position detached from the first frame, wherein the bars are spaced from one another and extend axially between the curved members forming openings therebetween for grain to pass through in the first position of each of the bars. The second frame restricts movement of each of the bars between the first and second positions in the closed position of the first and second frames, and the second frame allows movement of each of the bars between the first and second positions in the open position of the first and second frames.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to agricultural combines and, moreparticularly, to concaves for agricultural combines.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Agricultural combines are large machines that harvest, thresh, separateand clean an agricultural crop. The resulting clean grain is stored in agrain tank located on the combine. The clean grain is transported fromthe grain tank to a truck, grain cart or other receiving bin by anunloading auger.

In general, an agricultural combine includes a harvesting platform, afeederhouse, a threshing drum mounted in close proximity to a concave,sieves, a collection or bulk tank, and various conveyors, such asrotating belts and spinning augers. The harvesting platform gathers andcuts the crop near ground level and directs the harvested crop to thefeederhouse, which applies the harvested crop to the threshing drum. Theharvested crop is threshed between the rotating threshing drum and theconcave separating the grains from the chaff to form threshings, namely,the chaff and the separated grains. The threshings are applied to acleaning system, which separates the grains from the chaff, applies thegrains to the collection or bulk tank that is periodically emptied intoa truck, grain cart or other receiving bin by an unloading auger, anddischarges the chaff onto the field.

The concave generally includes an array of straight bars that extendparallel to the threshing drum axis of rotation. The curved bars arepermanently welded to curved end members. Curved wires, which projectthrough the bars in some concaves and that underlie the bars in otherconcave designs, extend circumferentially along the concave. A concaveof this type forms a grate through which the majority of the threshedgrain and chaff fall onto a collecting assembly where it is directed tothe cleaning system of the combine.

A concave must be periodically replaced when the bars wear down or whenthey are bent or broken by rocks, wire, and other foreign matter that isinadvertently drawn into the combine. Replacing a concave is difficultand time-consuming work, and especially costly when the need arisesduring a harvest. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a concavethat is easily and inexpensively serviceable without the need forreplacement or removal from a combine, and that is easy to construct andassemble, and that eliminates extended downtimes during harvest.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the principle of the invention, a concave for anagricultural combine includes first and second frames connected togetherfor movement between closed and open positions. The first frame includescurved members axially spaced from one another, and bars each movablebetween a first position removably connected to the first frame and asecond position detached from the first frame. The bars are spaced fromone another and extend axially between the curved members formingopenings therebetween for grain to pass through in the first position ofeach of the bars. The second frame restricts movement of each of thebars between the first and second positions in the closed position ofthe first and second frames. The second frame allows movement of each ofthe bars between the first and second positions in the open position ofthe first and second frames. The first and second frames are pivotallyconnected for movement between the closed and open positions. The secondframe includes curved stops axially spaced from one another, and in theclosed position of the first and second frames the curved stops arejuxtaposed on either side of the respective curved members so as torestrict movement of each of the bars between the first and secondpositions. There is an engagement assembly for removably connecting eachof the bars in the first position thereof to the first frame includingelements thereof carried by each of the bars and complemental elementsthereof carried by the first frame. In the first position of the barsthe engagement assemblies prevent axial rotation of the bars relative tothe first frame. Each of the elements is one of a tongue and a slot, andeach of the complemental elements is the other one of the tongue and theslot.

According to the principle of the invention, a concave for anagricultural combine includes first and second frames connected togetherfor movement between closed and open positions. The first frame includescurved members axially spaced from one another, and bars each formedwith a separating grate. The bars are each movable between a firstposition removably connected to the first frame and a second positiondetached from the first frame. In the first position of each of thebars, the bars are spaced from one another and extend axially betweenthe curved members forming openings therebetween for grain to passthrough, and the separating grate of each bar extends across an adjacentopening to an adjacent bar for separating grain from threshed cropmaterial. The second frame restricts movement of each of the barsbetween the first and second positions in the closed position of thefirst and second frames. The second frame allows movement of each of thebars between the first and second positions in the open position of thefirst and second frames. In the first position of each of the bars theseparating grate of each bar is in direct contact against a shoulder ofthe adjacent bar. The separating grate of each bar consists of parallelfingers axially spaced from one another. The first and second frames arepivotally connected for movement between the closed and open positions.The second frame includes curved stops axially spaced from one another,and in the closed position of the first and second frames the curvedstops are juxtaposed on either side of the respective curved members soas to restrict movement of each of the bars between the first and secondpositions. There is an engagement assembly for removably connecting eachof the bars in the first position thereof to the first frame includingelements thereof carried by each of the bars and complemental elementsthereof carried by the first frame. In the first position of the barsthe engagement assemblies prevent axial rotation of the bars relative tothe first frame. Each of the elements is one of a tongue and a slot, andeach of the complemental elements is the other one of the tongue and theslot.

According to the principle of the invention, a concave for anagricultural combine includes a frame having curved members axiallyspaced from one another, and bars each formed with a separating grate.The bars are spaced from one another and extend axially between thecurved members forming openings therebetween for grain to pass through,and the separating grate of each bar extends across an adjacent openingto an adjacent bar for separating grain from threshed crop material. Theseparating grate of each bar includes parallel fingers axially spacedfrom one another. The parallel fingers of each bar each has a free endin direct contact against a shoulder of the adjacent bar.

According to the principle of the invention, a concave for anagricultural combine includes a frame assembly including first framesand a second frame connected together for movement between a closedposition of the frame assembly and an open position of the frameassembly. Each of the first frames includes curved members axiallyspaced from one another, and bars each movable between a first positionremovably connected to the first frame and a second position detachedfrom the first frame, wherein the bars are spaced from one another andextend axially between the curved members forming openings therebetweenfor grain to pass through in the first position of each of the bars. Thesecond frame restricts movement of each of the bars of the first framesbetween the first and second positions in the closed position of theframe assembly. The second frame allows movement of each of the barsbetween the first and second positions in the open position of the frameassembly. The first frames and the second frames are pivotally connectedfor movement between the closed and open positions of the frameassembly. The second frame includes curved stops axially spaced from oneanother, and in the closed position of the first frames and the secondframe the curved stops are juxtaposed on either side of one of thecurved members of the respective first frames so as to restrict movementof each of the bars of the first frames between the first and secondpositions. There is an engagement assembly for removably connecting eachof the bars in the first position thereof to a corresponding one of thefirst frames including elements thereof carried by each of the bars andcomplemental elements thereof carried by the corresponding one of thefirst frames. In the first position of the bars the engagementassemblies prevent axial rotation of the bars relative to thecorresponding one of first frames. Each of the elements is one of atongue and a slot, and each of the complemental elements is the otherone of the tongue and the slot.

According to the principle of the invention, a concave for anagricultural combine includes a frame assembly including first framesand a second frame connected together for movement between a closedposition of the frame assembly and an open position of the frameassembly. Each of the first frames includes curved members axiallyspaced from one another, and bars each formed with a separating grate,the bars each movable between a first position removably connected tothe first frame and a second position detached from the first frame, andin the first position of each of the bars the bars are spaced from oneanother and extend axially between the curved members forming openingstherebetween for grain to pass through, and the separating grate of eachbar extends across an adjacent opening to an adjacent bar for separatinggrain from threshed crop material. The second frame restricts movementof each of the bars of the first frames between the first and secondpositions in the closed position of the frame assembly. The second frameallows movement of each of the bars between the first and secondpositions in the open position of the frame assembly. In the firstposition of each of the bars the separating grate of each bar is indirect contact against a shoulder of the adjacent bar. The separatinggrate of each bar includes parallel fingers axially spaced from oneanother. The first frames and the second frames are pivotally connectedfor movement between the closed and open positions of the frameassembly. The second frame includes curved stops axially spaced from oneanother, and in the closed position of the first frames and the secondframe the curved stops are juxtaposed on either side of one of thecurved members of the respective first frames so as to restrict movementof each of the bars of the first frames between the first and secondpositions. There is an engagement assembly for removably connecting eachof the bars in the first position thereof to a corresponding one of thefirst frames including elements thereof carried by each of the bars andcomplemental elements thereof carried by the corresponding one of thefirst frames. In the first position of the bars the engagementassemblies prevent axial rotation of the bars relative to thecorresponding one of first frames. Each of the elements is one of atongue and a slot, and each of the complemental elements is the otherone of the tongue and the slot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings:

FIGS. 1-3 are perspective views of a concave section constructed andarranged in accordance with the principle of the invention, the concavesection includes parallel bars carried by an inner frame connected to anouter frame;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 shown as itwould appear open;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a transverse section view illustrating an engagement assemblybetween a bar and a curved member of the concave section of FIGS. 1-5;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to that of FIG. 4 illustrating a bar removedfrom the inner frame of the concave section;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a section of the concave section of FIGS.1-3 illustrating the outer frame capturing bars carried by the innerframe;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a concave section constructed andarranged in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention,the concave section includes parallel rows of bars carried by an innerframe connected to an outer frame;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 9 shown as itwould appear open with a pair of opposed bars removed from the innerframe of the concave section;

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of a section of the embodiment of FIG. 9illustrating the outer frame capturing rows of bars carried by the innerframe;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an alternate configuration of theembodiment of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a concave section constructed andarranged in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention,the concave section includes parallel rows of bars carried by an innerframe connected to an outer frame, the bars each being formed with anintegrated grate;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 13 shown as itwould appear open;

FIG. 15 is a view similar to that of FIG. 14 illustrating a pair ofopposed bars removed from the inner frame of the concave section;

FIG. 16 is a rear perspective view of a bar of the concave sectiondepicted in FIGS. 13-15;

FIG. 17 is a front perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 16;

FIG. 19 is a section view taken along line 19-19 of FIG. 16;

FIG. 20 is a side elevation view of the inner frame and the barsinstalled on the inner frame;

FIG. 21 is an enlarged fragmented view of a segment of the inner frameof FIG. showing the interaction between bars installed on the innerframe;

FIG. 22 is a top plan view of a section of the embodiment of FIG. 13illustrating the outer frame capturing rows of bars carried by the innerframe;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of an alternate configuration of theembodiment of FIG. 14;

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a bar formedwith an integrated grate according to the principle of the invention;

FIG. 25 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 is a side elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 24, theopposite side elevation view being the same thereof;

FIG. 27 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a bar formedwith an integrated grate according to the principle of the invention;

FIG. 28 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 27; and

FIG. 29 is a side elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 27, theopposite side elevation view being the same thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A known agricultural combine includes a harvesting platform forharvesting a crop and directing it to a feederhouse. The harvested cropis applied from the feederhouse to a rotary crop processing unit thatthreshes and separates the harvested crop. The rotary crop processingunit includes a rotating threshing drum or rotor radially surrounded bya casing that together define an inlet section, a threshing section, anda separating section. The rotor is a hollow cylindrical drum having anumerous crop processing elements that engage the harvested crop androtate it in the casing. The bottom of the casing has a concave underthe threshing section and a separating grate under the separatingsection. Grain and chaff falling through the concave and the separatinggrate are directed to a cleaning system, which removes the chaff anddirects the clean grain to a clean grain elevator that conveys the cleangrain to a grain or bulk tank. The clean grain in the bulk tank isperiodically unloaded into a grain cart or truck by an unloading auger,and the threshed and separated chaff is discharged from the combinethrough an outlet at the rear of the combine. The customary dischargebeater at the rear of the combine propels the discharged chaff onto thefield. The operation of the combine is controlled from an operator'scab.

The present invention is directed to the concave located under thethreshing section of the rotary processing unit. One concave section isused to form the concave, or a plurality of concave sections are used toform the concave. A concave section 50 constructed and arranged inaccordance with the principle of the invention is shown in FIGS. 1-8.Concave section 50 incorporates numerous hardware fasteners in the formof conventional nut-and-bolt assemblies. Each nut-and-bolt assembly inconcave section 50 includes the customary bolt and the customarycorresponding nut. The bolt is inserted through corresponding openingsin the pieces to be connected, the nut is threaded onto the threadedshank of the bolt, and the nut is tightened via rotation so as to securethe connected pieces between the head of the bolt and the nut threadedonto the threaded shank of the bolt. This operation is reversed todetach the connected pieces. This is a normal and customary nut-and-boltfastening assembly. For clarity, different reference numerals are usedto call out the various nut-and-bolt assemblies of concave section 50.

Referencing FIGS. 1-8 in relevant part, concave section 50 includesframe 51, frame 52, and threshing elements or bars 53. Bars 53 carriedby frame 52 provide aggressive threshing edges. Bars 53 areindependently removably connected to frame 52 so as to be selectivelyand independently attached to or otherwise installed on frame 52 inpreparation for threshing and detached or otherwise released from frame52 for individual bar 53 repair or replacement. Frames 51 and 52cooperate to form a frame assembly, and are connected together formovement between a nested or closed position in FIGS. 1-3 so as todefine the nested or closed position of the frame assembly and alsoconcave section 50, and an open position in FIGS. 4, 5, and 7 so as todefine the open position of the frame assembly and also concave section50. In the closed position as in FIGS. 1-3, there is an interactionbetween frame 51 and bars 53 removably connected to frame 52, whichholds and locks or otherwise secures bars 53 in place to the frameassembly in preparation for threshing. In the open position as in FIGS.4, 5, and 7, frames 51 and 52 are spread apart, such that bars 53 arefree from the influence of frame 51 so as to allow bars 53 to bereadily, independently, and selectively removed, detached, or otherwisede-united from frame 52, and readily, independently, and selectivelyattached, installed, or otherwise united to frame 52, such as for barrepair or bar replacement purposes. Frame 51 is an outer frame, andframe 52 is an inner frame in that frame 52 is positioned within frame51 in the nested or closed position of concave section 50. Frames 51 and52, and bars 53 are made of the customary steel as is normal in the artof concaves.

Referencing in relevant part FIGS. 1-5, FIG. 7, and FIG. 8, frame 51includes members 60 and 62. Members 60 and 62 are end members and aresubstantially identical and coextensive. Members 60 and 62 are thin andelongate and are axially spaced from one another and extend parallel toone another, and are curved to extend circumferentially about a portionof the rotor of the rotary processing unit. Given that members 60 and 62are end members and are curved, they may be referred to as either curvedmembers, or curved end members. Curved end member 60 has opposite ends64 and 65, and curved end member 62 has opposite ends 66 and 67.Transverse support member 68 extends between and is joined to ends 64and 66 of curved members 60 and 62 via welding, and transverse supportmember 69 extends between and is joined to ends 65 and 67 of curved endmembers 60 and 62 via welding. Transverse support members 68 and 69 arerelatively thin, elongate plates.

Frame 52 includes members 70, 72, 74, and 76. Members 70, 72, 74, and 76are substantially identical and coextensive. Members 70 and 72 are thinand elongate and are axially spaced from one another, and members 74 and76 are thin and elongate and are axially juxtaposed relative to eachother and axially spaced from members 70 and 72. Members 70, 72, 74, and76 extend parallel relative to each other, and relative to members 60and 62. Members 70 and 72 are the outermost or end members of frame 52,and members 74 and 76 are between members 70 and 72 and are theinnermost or intermediate members of frame 52. Members 74 and 76 aresubstantially equidistant between members 70 and 72, and extend parallelto one another. Member 74 is axially positioned alongside member 76 andis between member 76 and member 70. Member 76 is axially positionedalongside member 74 and is between member 74 and member 72. Members 74and 76 are releasably connected to each other with fasteners, here inthe form of two nut-and-bolt assemblies 78, which are longitudinallyspaced apart between, on the one hand, ends 84 and 86, and, on the otherhand, ends 85 and 87. Less or more such assemblies 78 can be used.Members 70, 72, 74 and 76 are curved like that of end members 60 and 62to similarly extend circumferentially about a portion of the rotor ofthe rotary processing unit. Members 60, 62, 70, 72, 74, and 76 havematching curvatures. Given that members 70 and 72 are end members andare curved, they may be referred to as either curved members, or curvedend members. Given that members 74 and 76 are intermediate members andare curved, they may be referred to as either curved members, or curvedintermediate members. Curved end member 70 has opposed ends 80 and 81,curved end member 72 has opposed ends 82 and 83, curved intermediatemember 74 has opposed ends 84 and 85, and curved intermediate member 76has opposed ends 86 and 87.

Frames 51 and 52 are connected together so as to be movable between thenested or closed position in FIGS. 1-3 in the assembly of concavesection 50 in preparation for threshing in which frames 51 and 52 areaxially aligned, and the open position in FIGS. 4, 5, and 7 in whichframes 51 and 52 are spread apart like co-acting jaws for bar 53maintenance and replacement purposes. Curved end member 70 is juxtaposedalong, and is in direct contact against, the inner side of curved endmember 60, and curved end member 72 is juxtaposed along, and is indirect contact against, the inner side of curved end member 62. End 80of curved end member 70 is connected to end 64 of curved end member 60,end 82 of curved end member 72 is connected to end 66 of curved endmember 72, and ends 84 and 86 of curved intermediate members 74 and 76are connected to transverse support member 68 at an intermediatelocation between end 80 of curved end member 70 connected to end 64 ofcurved end member 60, and end 82 of curved end member 72 connected toend 66 of curved end member 62. The connections of ends 80, 82, 84, and86 of frame 52 to frame 51 are pivotal connections, here vianut-and-bolt fasteners 90, that provide concurrent pivotal movement ofmembers 70, 72, 74, and 76 that make up frame 52 between a firstposition downwardly and away from frame 51 as in FIGS. 4, 5, and 7 so asto define the open position of frame 52 and, moreover, the open positionof the frame assembly and of concave section 50, and a second positionupwardly toward frame 52 as in FIGS. 1-3 so as to define the nested orclosed position of frame 52 and, moreover, the nested or closed positionof the frame assembly and of concave section 50. Ends 64 and 80 arepivotally connected with one nut-and-bolt fastener 90, ends 82 and 66are pivotally connected with one nut-and-bolt fastener 90, and ends 84and 86 are pivotally connected to transverse support member 68 with onenut-and-bolt fastener 90. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, transverse supportmember 68 has an intermediate lug 91 formed on its under or inner side.Lug 91 is equidistant between ends 64 and 66 of curved end members 60and 62. Lug 91 extends between ends 84 and 86 of curved intermediatemembers 74 and 76, and one nut-and-bolt assembly 90 pivotally connectslug 91 to ends 84 and 86 on either side of lug 91. Pivot pins or otherforms of pivotal connections or fasteners can be used to pivotallyconnect ends 80, 82, 83, and 84 of frame 52 to described connectingpoints of frame 51 without departing from the invention.

And so ends 80, 82, 84, and 86 of frame 52 are mounted to frame 51 forpivotal movement, here via nut-and-bolt fasteners 90, for movementbetween the first or open position of frame 52 extending downwardly andaway from frame 51 as in FIGS. 4, 5, and 7 so as to define the openposition of the frame assembly and of concave section 50, and the secondor nested or closed position of frame 52 upwardly toward and withinframe 51 as in FIGS. 1-3 so as to define the nested or closed positionof the frame assembly and of concave section 50. In the nested or closedposition with reference in relevant part to FIGS. 1-3 and 8, frame 52 iswithin frame 51, curved end member 70 extends parallel to and is axiallyjuxtaposed along and is in direct contact with the inner side of curvedend member 60 that in turn extends parallel to and is axially juxtaposedalong the outer side of curved end member 60, curved end member 72extends parallel to and is axially juxtaposed along and is in directcontact with the inner side of curved end member 62 that in turn extendsparallel to and is axially juxtaposed along the outer side of curved endmember 62, and parallel and axially juxtaposed curved intermediatemembers 74 and 76 extend parallel relative to curved end members 60, 62,70 and 72 and are equidistant between and are axially spaced from curvedend members 70 and 72 extending parallel along the inner sides of therespective curved end members 60 and 62. Curved end member 70 extendsconcurrently along the length of curved end member 60 of frame 51 fromend 80 connected to end 64, to end 81 at end 65 at the inner side oftransverse support member 69. Curved end member 72 extends concurrentlyalong the length of curved end member 62 of frame 51 from end 82connected to end 66, to end 83 at end 67 at the inner side of transversesupport member 69. Curved intermediate members 74 and 76 extendconcurrently along the length of frame 51 from ends 84 and 86 connectedto transverse support member 68 to ends 85 and 87 at the inner side oftransverse support member 69.

Fasteners are used to removably connect frame 52 to frame 51 in thesecond or closed position of frame 52 defining the nested or closedposition of frames 51 and 52 so as to secure concave section 50 in thenested or closed position in preparation for threshing. Specifically,end members 60 and 70 are releasably connected to each other withlongitudinally spaced fasteners, here in the form of three nut-and-boltassemblies 92 and less or more of such assemblies 92 can be used, andend members 62 and 72 are releasably connected to each other withlongitudinally spaced fasteners, here in the form of three nut-and-boltassemblies 94 and lest or more of such assemblies 84 can be used. Asseen in FIGS. 4 and 7, transverse support member 69 has an intermediatelug 96 formed on its inner side equidistant between ends 64 and 66 ofcurved end members 60 and 62. In the second position of frame 52defining the nested or closed position of frames 51 and 52, lug 91 isapplied between ends 85 and 87 of curved intermediate members 74 and 76as shown in FIG. 3, and one fastener, here in the form of onenut-and-bolt assembly 98, releasably connects lug 96 to ends 85 and 87on either side of lug 96, and this further secures concave section 50 inits nested or closed position.

In FIGS. 1-5, 7, and 8, frame 52 carries bars 53. Bars 53 are identicaland are spaced from one another and are parallel relative to each otherand extend axially between curved end members 70 and 72, and acrosscurved intermediate members 74 and 76, forming openings 110 therebetweenfor grain to pass through, as shown in FIGS. 1-4. Referencing the bar 53in FIG. 7 shown removed from frame 52 of concave section 50, each bar 53is elongate and longitudinally straight and integrally formed viamachining or molding and has opposed ends 112 and 113, an upperaggressive threshing edge 115 that extends between ends 112 and 113 anda lower end 116 that extends between ends 112 and 113. Bars 53 are eachindependently removably connected to frame 52 via an engagementassembly. Each engagement assembly for removably connecting each of thebars 53 to frame 52 includes elements thereof carried by each of thebars 53 and complemental elements thereof carried by frame 52,specifically members 70, 72, 74, and 76. The element and thecomplemental element of each engagement assembly are a tongue 117 and aslot 105, respectively. Tongue 117, which is exemplary of a maleengagement element, and slot 105, which is exemplary of a femaleengagement element, have conforming or complementing shapes that allowthem to interlock. Although the element of each engagement assembly istongue 117 and the complemental element of each engagement assembly isslot 105, this arrangement can be reversed.

Referencing FIGS. 1-5 and 7 in relevant part, members 70, 72, 74, and 76have top edges 70A, 72A that lie along a common curved surface to extendcircumferentially about a portion of the rotor of a rotary processingunit. Members 70, 72, 74, and 76 each have slots 105. Slots 105 areidentical and are identically longitudinally spaced along the lengths ofthe respective members 70, 72, 74, and 76. Slots 105 are formed in topedges 70A, 72A, 74A, and 76A of the respective members 70, 72, 74, and76. FIG. 6 shows one such slot 105 in top edge 70A of member 70. Slots105 in top edge 70A of member 70 are axially aligned or otherwisecorrespond with the slots 105 in top edges 72A, 74A, and 76A of theother members 72, 74, and 76. The slots 105 of each set of axiallyaligned slots 105 of members 70, 72, 74, and 76 form the complementalelements of an engagement assembly that relate to the elements of theengagement assembly of each corresponding bar 53.

Each bar 53 has three axially spaced tongues 117 formed in lower end116, including end tongue 117A near end 112, end tongue 117B near end113, and intermediate tongue 117C equidistant between end tongues 117Aand 117B. The tongues 117A, 117B, and 117C of each bar 53 form theelements of the engagement assembly that relate to the complementalelements of the engagement assembly defined by the slots 105 of each setof axially aligned slots 105 of members 70, 72, 74, and 76. Tongues117A, 117B, and 117C of each bar 53 are seated in a set of axiallyaligned slots 105 of the corresponding members 70, 72, 74, and 76.Tongues 117A are seated in slots 105 of curved end member 70, tongues117B are seated in corresponding slots 105 of curved end member 72, andtongues 117C are seated the corresponding slots 105 of curvedintermediate members 74 and 76. In this embodiment, slots 105 andtongues 117A, 117B, and 117C of the engagement assemblies havecorresponding T-shapes, which secure bars 52 prevent axial rotation ofthe bars 53 relative to frame 52, permit movement of bars 53 along onlyone axis, which is the longitudinal axis of each bar 53, and restrictmovement of each bar 53 in any other axis or direction, includingaxes/directions that are transverse or perpendicular relative to thecurvature of frame 52. FIG. 6 shows one tongue 117A of one bar 53 seatedin one slot 105 in top edge 70A of member 70.

The bars 53, including at their opposite ends 112 and 113, are notaffixed so as to be immovable using any suitable technique, such as bywelding, to members 70, 72, 74, after uniting the elements and thecomplemental elements of each engagement assembly removably connectingeach bar 53 to frame 52. Because of this, bars 53 are left removablyconnected to frame 52 simply by seating/inserting the tongues 117 ofeach bar into a corresponding set of axially aligned slots 105 inmembers 70, 72, 74, and 76, and readily removed from frame 52 byreleasing the tongues 117 of each bar 53 from the corresponding set ofaxially aligned slots 105 in members 70, 72, 74, and 76.

Installation of each bar 53 is carried out simply by axially aligningits tongues 117 with a preselected set of axially aligned slots ofmembers 70, 72, 74, and 76, and then moving the bar 53 axially along itslongitudinal axis so as to concurrently slide tongue 117A into thepreselected slot 105 of member 70, tongue 117B into the correspondingslot 105 of member 72, and tongue 117C concurrently into thecorresponding slots 105 of members 74 and 75. The removal of each bar 53is done simply by reversing this operation. This way, the bars 53 may bereadily attached or united to frame 52 and detached or de-united fromframe 52 as desired, such as for repair or replacement in the case ofbar 53 wear or damage. And when bars 53 are so removably connected toframe 52, the tongues 117 of the bars 53 are seated in theshape-conforming slots 105 formed in members 70, 72, 74, and 76 at theirrespective top edges 70A, 72A, 74A, and 76A, and the threshing edges 115extend above top edges 70A, 72A, 74A and 76A of the respective members70, 72, 74, and 76 of frame 52 so as to be located for threshing aharvested crop. FIG. 6 not only shows one tongue 117A of one bar 53seated in one slot 105 in top edge 70A of member 70, but also shows onethreshing edge 115 extending above top edge 70A.

As described above, the bars 53 are not affixed to frame 52 using anysuitable technique, such as by welding, to members 70, 72, 74, and 76 soas to be permanently connected to frame 52, such that the only way toremove them would be to destroy such a permanent connection. Thedescribed engagement assembly between each bar 53 and frame 52 is anon-destructive, removable and impermanent connection, which means thatthe connection between the various tongues and slots does not requirethe destruction of the engagement assembly, such as by cutting, in orderto remove the various bars 53 from frame 52.

To removably install bars 53 on frame 52 in an example, frame 52 islocated in the open position as in FIGS. 4, 5, and 7, and each bar 53 isremovably connected to frame 52 by axially aligning its tongues 117 witha preselected set of axially aligned slots 105 of members 70, 72, 74,and 76, and then simply moving the bar 53 axially along its longitudinalaxis so as to concurrently slide tongue 117A into the preselected slot105 of member 70, tongue 117B into the corresponding slot 105 of member72, and tongue 117C into the corresponding slots 105 of members 74 and75. In FIG. 7 one bar 53 is shown positioned upright from lower end 116to upper threshing edge 115 with its tongues axially aligned with a setof axially aligned slots 105 in preparation for installation on frame52, which is carried out simply by moving bar 53 axially along itslongitudinal axis in the direction of arrowed line A, whereby tongue117B is passed sequentially through a slot 105 of member 70 and thenthrough axially aligned slots 105 of members 74 and 76 to its finalresting place in axially aligned slot 105 of member 72. As the bar 53 isso moved in the direction of arrowed line A, tongue 117C follows tongue117B and passes first through slot 105 of member 70 to its final restingplace in axially aligned slots 105 of members 74 and 76, and tongue 117Afollows tongue 117C to its final resting place in the slot 105 of member70. The removal of such bar 53 from frame 52 is done by reversing thisoperation simply by moving such bar axially along its longitudinal axisin the direction of arrowed B opposite to that of the direction ofarrowed line A. The remaining bars 53 in FIG. 7 are installed in thesame way and are shown so installed on frame 52, whereby each installedbar 53 extends axially from end 112 of bar 53 at member 70 and acrossmembers 74 and 76 to end 113 of bar 53 at member 72, which is alsoillustrated in FIG. 8. With further reference to FIG. 8, end 112 of eachinstalled bar 53 is substantially flush with respect to the outer sideof member 70, the opposed end 113 of each installed bar 53 isidentically substantially flush with respect to the outer side of member72, and the threshing edge 115 of each installed bar 53 extends abovetop edges 70A, 72A, 74A and 76A of the respective members 70, 72, 74,and 76 of frame 52 so as to be located for threshing a harvested crop.Openings 110 are formed between the installed bars 53 for grain to passthrough. To removably install a bar 53 on frame 52 in anotherembodiment, the bar 53 can be simply positioned over frame 52 so as toaxially align tongue 117A on one side of one slot 105 in member 70,axially align tongue 117B on one side of a corresponding slot 105 inmember 72, and axially align tongue 117C on one side of correspondingslots 105 in members 74 and 76, and then the bar 53 can be moved in onedirection along its longitudinal axis toward the respective slots 105 toconcurrently insert the tongues 117 into the corresponding slots 105 toinstall the bar 53 on frame 52, and in the opposite direction to removetongues 117 from the respective slots 105 to detach the bar 53 fromframe 52.

In the open position of concave section 50 shown in FIGS. 4 5 and 7,frame 52 is pivoted away from frame 51 so as to extend downwardly andaway from frame 52 from ends 80, 82, 84 and 86 connected to frame 52 toends 81, 83, 85, and 87, which allows the selective installation andremoval of bars 53 with respect to frame 52 without interference fromframe 51. In other words, in the open position of concave section 50,frame 51 is pivoted away from bars 53 on frame 52 to allow movement ofbars 53 between their installed and released positions relative to frame52. Once all of the bars 53 are installed on frame 52 as in FIGS. 4 and5, completion of the assembly of concave section 50 in preparation forthreshing is done by securing concave section 50 into its nested orclosed position by pivoting frame 52 upwardly in the direction ofarrowed line C from its open position in FIGS. 4 and 5 to its nested orclosed position in FIGS. 1-3 nested in frame 51, and then securingmembers 60 and 70 with nut-and-bolt assemblies 92, securing members 62and 72 with nut-and-bolt assemblies 94, and securing members 74 and 76to lug 91 with nut-and-bolt assembly 98.

In the nested or closed position of frame 52 defining the closedposition of concave section 50 shown in relevant part in FIGS. 1-3 and8, frame 51 interacts with bars 53 to restrict or otherwise restraineach of the bars 53 from moving between installed and released positionsso as to secure and hold/lock bars 53 in place to frame 52 and, thus, tothe frame assembly. Specifically, in the nested or closed positions offrame 51, curved end member 60 of frame 51 that extends parallel to andis axially juxtaposed along the outer side of curved end member 70 offrame 52 closely confronts and makes direct contact against ends 112 ofbars 53 on one side of concave section 50, and curved end member 62 offrame 51 that extends parallel to and is axially juxtaposed along theouter side of curved end member 72 of frame 52 closely confronts andmakes direct contact against the opposed ends 113 of bars 53 on theopposed side of concave assembly 50, whereby curved end members 60 and62 thusly act as curved stops axially spaced from one another andjuxtaposed on either side of the respective curved end members 70 and 72of frame 52 and the respective ends 112 and 113 of the respective bars53 functioning to capture bars 53 therebetween to restrict movement ofbars 53 between their installed and released positions, and which alsoprevents the ability to install a bar 53 on frame 53 should one beinadvertently missing.

With concave section 50 so assembled, concave section 50 is ready forthreshing in the customary manner in a rotary processing unit. In therotary processing unit, bars 53 extend parallel to the axis of rotationof the rotating threshing drum, and upper threshing edges 115 extendupward from top edges 70A, 70B, 70C, and 70D of members 70, 72, 74, and76 of frame 52 to provide aggressive threshing of the harvested crop andopenings 110 between bars 53 are for grain to pass through. In a rotarycombine, a single long concave section 50 can be utilized as the concaveor multiple shorter concave sections 50 can be arranged end-to-end toform the concave. Should bars 53 become worn or damaged so as to requirereplacement or repair, nut-and-bolt fasteners 92, 94, and 98 are simplyremoved to release frame 52 from frame 51, and frame 52 is pivotallymoved downwardly in the direction of arrowed line D in FIGS. 1-3 fromthe nested or closed position of frame 52 defining the closed positionof the frame assembly and of concave section 50 to the open position offrame 52 in FIGS. 4, 5, and 7 defining the open position of the frameassembly and of concave section 50 to allow any of the bars needingreplacement or repair to be easily removed, repaired or replaced, andreinstalled, in accordance with the principle of the invention. FIGS. 4and 5 show frames 51 and 52 in the open position with the nut-and-boltassemblies 92, 94, and 98, shown in FIG. 2, removed. After selected bars53 are quickly repaired or replaced and installed on frame 52, frame 52may then be moved upwardly in the direction of arrowed line C in FIGS. 4and 5 from its open position in FIGS. 4 and 5 to its closed position inFIGS. 1-3, and then secured in place with nut-and-bolt assemblies 92,94, and 98 so as to secure concave section 50 in the nested or closedposition in preparation for the resumption of threshing in the normalmanner.

In the embodiment denoted at 50, bars 53 extending between curved endmembers 70 and 72 and across curved intermediate members are single bars53. As such, in concave section 50 frame 52 has parallel single bars 53.In an alternate embodiment of a concave section constructed and arrangedin accordance with the principle of the invention, frame 52 can beformed with parallel rows of split bars. Such a concave section 130 isdiscussed in conjunction with FIGS. 9-12.

Concave section 130 is identical in every respect to concave section 50in that it shares frame 51 and frame 52 and all associated nut-and-boltassemblies. In this example, the bars, which are identical and are eachdenoted at 131, are each identical to bars 53 in that they share ends112 and 113, upper threshing edge 115, lower end 116, and tongues 117.Bars 131 are each independently removably connected to frame 52 via theengagement assembly. Each engagement assembly for removably connectingeach of the bars 53 to frame 52 includes elements thereof carried byeach of the bars 53, namely, tongues 117, and complemental elementsthereof carried by frame 52, namely, slots 105 in members 70, 72, 74,and 76. Again, the positioning of tongues 117 and slots 105 can bereversed.

In concave section 130 bars 131 are half the length of bars 53 andinclude just two tongues 117, namely, tongue 117A near end 112 andtongue 117B near end 113. In this example, there are two axially alignedbars 131 for each row of bars 131, and rows of bars 131, of course, formopenings 110 therebetween for grain to pass through as in concavesection 50. Two bars 131 are axially aligned for each row. One bar 131Aextends axially from member 70 to member 74, and the other bar 131Bextends axially from member 76 to member 72. Specifically, one bar 131Aextends axially from end 112 thereof at member 70 to end 113 thereof atmember 74, and the corresponding tongues 117A and 117B are applied toaxially aligned slots 105 in members 70 and 74 respectively. The otherbar 131B extends axially from end 113 thereof at member 72 to end 112thereof at member 76, and the corresponding tongues 117B and 117A areapplied to axially aligned slots 105 in members 72 and 76 respectively.Each pair of bars 131A and 131B are axially aligned, and the end 113 ofbar 131A extending between members 70 and 74 confronts and diametricallyopposes the end 112 of bar 131B extending between members 72 and 76.FIG. 9 shows concave section 130 as it would appear closed with parallelrows of two bars 131A and 131B each. FIG. 10 shows concave section 130as it would appear open to allow independent installation and removal ofthe various bars 131, and two corresponding bars 131A and 131B to make arow of two bars are shown detached from frame 52 in preparation forinstallation into the corresponding available set of axially alignedslots 105. To install these detached bars 131 into the axially alignedset of slots 105 in members 70, 72, 74, and 76, one bar 131A ispositioned to axially align tongues 117A and 117B with axially alignedslots 105 in members 70 and 74, and bar 131A is then moved axially alongits longitudinal axis in the direction of arrowed line E to set tongues117A and 117B into slots 105 of the respective members 70 and 74. Todetach bar 131A from frame 52, this operation need only be reversed. Theother bar 131B is, in turn, positioned to axially align tongues 117A and117B with axially aligned slots 105 in members 72 and 76, and bar 131Bis then moved axially along its longitudinal axis in the direction ofarrowed line F to set tongues 117A and 117B into slots 105 of therespective members 76 and 72. To detach bar 131B from frame 52, thisoperation need only be reversed. After bars 131A and 131B of eachparallel row of bars 131A and 131B are so removably installed on frame52, frames 51 and 52 may be adjusted via pivoting from the open positionin FIG. 10 to the closed position in FIG. 9, and then secured with thecorresponding nut-and-bolt fasteners in the closed position so as toready concave section 130 for threshing.

In the nested or closed position of frame 52 defining the closedposition of concave section 130 in FIGS. 9 and 11, frame 51 restricts orotherwise restrains the rows of bars 131 from moving between installedand released positions. Specifically, in the nested or closed positionsof frame 51, curved end member 60 of frame 51 that extends parallel toand is axially juxtaposed along the outer side of curved end member 70of frame 52 closely confronts and makes direct contact against ends 112of bars 131A extending between member 70 and member 74, and curved endmember 62 of frame 51 that extends parallel to and is axially juxtaposedalong the outer side of curved end member 72 of frame 52 closelyconfronts and makes direct contact against ends 113 of bars 131Bextending between members 72 and 76, whereby curved end members 60 and62 act as curved stops axially spaced from one another and juxtaposed oneither side of the respective curved end members 70 and 72 of frame 52and the respective ends 112 and 113 of the respective bars 131A and 131Bcapturing each row of bars 131A and 131B therebetween to restrictmovement of bars 131 between their installed and released positions, andwhich also prevents the ability to install one or more bars 131 on frame53 should one or more be inadvertently missing.

In concave section 130, members 70 and 72 are considered one frame orotherwise a sub-frame 52′ of frame 52, and members 72 and 76 areconsidered another frame or sub-frame 52″ of frame 52. Frames 52′ and52″ cooperate to form frame 52 and are, of course, connected togetherfor movement of frame 52 between the closed position of the open andclosed positions as herein specifically described. Again, as discussedin conjunction with concave section 50, should bars 131 become worn ordamaged so as to require replacement or repair, nut-and-bolt fasteners92, 94, and 98, illustrated in FIG. 8, are simply removed to releaseframe 52 from frame 51, and frame 52 is pivotally moved downwardly tothe open position as in FIG. 10. If desired, nut-and-bolt assemblies 78in FIG. 2 connecting members 74 and 76 may be removed along withnut-and-bolt assembly 98 connecting ends 85 and 87 of members 74 and 76to frame 51 to release frame 52′ from frame 52″ as in FIG. 12 to allowindependent pivotal movement of frames 52′ and 52″ from open positionsas in FIG. 12 to the closed positions as in FIG. 9, at which point thevarious nut-and-bolt assemblies 92, 94, 78, and 98, depicted in FIG. 2,may be re-installed to secure concave section 130 in the closed positionin FIG. 9 in preparation for threshing. With this arrangement,nut-and-bolt assemblies 78, 92, and 98 may be removed to release frame52′ from frames 51 and 52″ to allow independent pivotal movement offrame 52′ from its closed position to its open position independently offrame 52″ to allow a user to service bars 131 of frame 52′, after whichframe 52′ may be pivoted back to its closed position and secured vianut-and-bolt assemblies 78, 92, and 98 to frames 52″ and 51. Moreover,nut-and-bolt assemblies 78, 94, and 98 may be removed to release frame52″ from frames 51 and 52′ to allow pivotal movement of frame 52″ fromits closed position to its open position independently of frame 52′ toallow a user to service bars 131 of frame 52″, after which frame 52″ maybe pivoted back to its closed position and secured via nut-and-boltassemblies 78, 94, and 98 to frames 52′ and 51.

Concave section 130 is exemplary of a “split-bar” construction. Another“split-bar” concave section 150 is shown in FIGS. 13-15.

Concave section 150 is identical in every respect to concave sections 50and 130 in that it shares frame 51 and frame 52 and all associatednut-and-bolt assemblies. In this example, the bars, which are identicaland are each denoted at 160, are half the length of bars 53 of concavesection 50 like that of bars 131 of concave section 130. ReferencingFIGS. 16-19, each bar 160 has a threshing component and a separatingcomponent. Each bar 160 is elongate and longitudinally straight andintegrally formed via machining or molding and has opposed ends 162 and163, an aggressive upper threshing edge 165 that extends between ends162 and 163, a lower end 166 that extends between ends 162 and 163, aback 167 and an opposed front 168 that each extend between ends 162 and163, a grate denoted generally at 170 formed in front 168, and ashoulder 180 formed in back 167. Upper threshing edge 165 is thethreshing component of bar 160, and grate 170 is the separatingcomponent of bar 160. Grate 170 is formed in front 168 of bar 160between upper threshing edge 165 and lower end 166, and extends alongthe length of bar 160 from end 162 to end 163. In this embodiment, grate170 consists of identical and coextensive axially-aligned parallelfingers 171 that extend outwardly from front 168 to free ends 172.Fingers 171 are axially spaced forming openings 175 therebetween forgrain to pass through. Fingers 171 are equally spaced apart and openings175 are identically sized. Shoulder 180 is formed in back 167 of bar 160between upper threshing edge 165 and lower end 166, and extends alongthe length of bar 160 from end 162 to end 163.

Just like bars 131 of concave section 130, bars 160 are eachindependently removably connected to frame 52 via the tongues 117 andslots 105 engagement assembly. Each engagement assembly for removablyconnecting each of the bars 160 to frame 52 includes the elementsthereof in the form of tongues 117 carried by each of the bars 160 andthe complemental elements thereof in the form of slots 105 carried byframe 52, specifically members 70, 72, 74, and 76. Like bars 131 ofconcave section 130, bars 160 each have two tongues 117, namely, tongue117A near end 162 and tongue 117B near end 163.

In this example with reference to FIGS. 13-15, there are two axiallyaligned bars 160 for each row of bars 160, and rows of bars 160, ofcourse, form openings 110 therebetween for grain to pass through as inconcave sections 50 and 130. Two bars 160 are axially aligned for eachrow. One bar 160A extends axially from member 70 to member 74, and theother bar 160B extends axially from member 76 to member 72.Specifically, one bar 160A extends axially from end 162 thereof atmember 70 to end 163 thereof at member 74, and the corresponding tongues117A and 117B are applied to axially aligned slots 105 in members 70 and74 respectively. The other bar 160B extends axially from end 162 thereofat member 72 to end 163 thereof at member 76, and the correspondingtongues 117B and 117A are applied to axially aligned slots 105 inmembers 72 and 76 respectively. Each pair of bars 160A and 160B areaxially aligned, and the end 163 of bar 160A extending between members70 and 74 confronts and diametrically opposes the end 162 of bar 160Bextending between members 72 and 76. FIG. 13 shows concave section 130as it would appear closed with parallel rows of two bars 160A and 160Beach. FIG. 14 shows concave section 130 as it would appear open to allowindependent installation and removal of the various bars 160. FIG. 15 isa view similar to that of FIG. 14 illustrating two corresponding bars160A and 160B to make a row of two bars detached from frame 52 inpreparation for installation. To install these detached bars 160 intothe axially aligned set of slots 105 in members 70, 72, 74, and 76, onebar 160A is positioned to axially align tongues 117A and 117B withaxially aligned slots 105 in members 70 and 74, and bar 160A is thenmoved axially along its longitudinal axis in the direction of arrowedline G to set tongues 117A and 117B into slots 105 of the respectivemembers 70 and 74. To detach bar 160A from frame 52, this operation needonly be reversed. The other bar 160B is, in turn, positioned to axiallyalign tongues 117A and 117B with axially aligned slots 105 in members 76and 72, and bar 160B is then moved axially along its longitudinal axisin the direction of arrowed line H to set tongues 117A and 117B intoslots 105 of the respective members 76 and 72. To detach bar 160B fromframe 52, this operation need only be reversed. After bars 160A and 160Bof each parallel row of bars 160A and 160B are so removably installed onframe 52, frames 51 and 52 may be adjusted via pivoting from the openposition in FIG. 14 to the closed position in FIG. 13, and then securedwith the corresponding nut-and-bolt fasteners in the closed position soas to ready concave section 130 for threshing.

In the nested or closed position of frame 52 defining the closedposition of concave section 150 in FIGS. 13 and 22, frame 51 restrictsor otherwise restrains the rows of bars 160 from moving betweeninstalled and released positions. Specifically, in the nested or closedpositions of frame 51, curved end member 60 of frame 51 that extendsparallel to and is axially juxtaposed along the outer side of curved endmember 70 of frame 52 closely confronts and makes direct contact againstends 162 of bars 160A extending between member 70 and member 74, andcurved end member 62 of frame 51 that extends parallel to and is axiallyjuxtaposed along the outer side of curved end member 72 of frame 52closely confronts and makes direct contact against ends 163 of bars 160Bextending between members 72 and 76, whereby curved end members 60 and62 act as curved stops axially spaced from one another and juxtaposed oneither side of the respective curved end members 70 and 72 of frame 52and the respective ends 162 and 163 of the respective bars 160A and 160Bcapturing each row of bars 160A and 160B therebetween to restrictmovement of bars 160 between their installed and released positions, andwhich also prevents the ability to install one or more bars 160 on frame53 should one or more be inadvertently missing.

In the installed position of the various bars 160 on frame 52 of concaveassembly 150 in reference to FIGS. 20-22, the grate 170 of each bar 160extends from front 168 across an adjacent opening 110 to back 167 of anadjacent bar 160 for separating grain at the corresponding opening 110from threshed crop material. Specifically, the grate 170 of each bar 160extends from front 168 thereof across an adjacent opening 110 to back167 of an adjacent bar 160 and is in direct contact against the shoulder180 of the adjacent bar 160. And so each grate 170 of one bar 160extends across an adjacent opening 110 to the adjacent bar 160 where itrests against the shoulder 180 of the adjacent bar 160. Morespecifically, fingers 171 of each bar 160 are parallel relative tomembers 60, 62, 70, 72, 74, and 76 and extend across the adjacentopening 110 to free ends 172 at the adjacent bar 160, which are indirect contact so as to rest against the shoulder 180 of the adjacentbar 160. Grates 170 thus form a continuity at openings 110 between thebars 160 of adjacent rows of bars 160. Grain falls concurrently throughopenings 175 between fingers 171 and each corresponding opening 110between adjacent rows of bars 160 for separating grain from threshedcrop material. Openings 175 of each grate 170 reduce the correspondingopening 110 size for smaller grains. In the rotary processing unit, bars160 extend parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotating threshingdrum, and fingers 171 of the grate 170 of each bar 160 extend transverseto the axis of rotation of the rotating threshing drum, upper threshingedges 165 extend upward from top edges 70A, 70B, 70C, and 70D of members70, 72, 74, and 76 of frame 52 to provide aggressive threshing of theharvested crop and grate openings 175 and openings 110 between bars 160are for grain to pass through and for separating grain from threshedcrop material. Should any bars 160 become worn or damaged so as torequire replacement or repair, or should the fingers 171 of theseparating grate 170 of any bars become worn or damaged so as to requirereplacement or repair, frame 52 may be adjusted from its closed positionin FIG. 13 to its open position in FIGS. 14 and 15 to allow any of thebars 160 needing replacement or repair to be easily removed, repaired orreplaced, and reinstalled, in accordance with the principle of theinvention.

In concave section 150 as in concave section 130, members 70 and 72 areconsidered one frame or otherwise a sub-frame 52′ of frame 52, andmembers 72 and 76 are considered another frame or sub-frame 52″ of frame52. Frames 52′ and 52″ are, of course, connected together for movementof frame 52 between the closed position of the frame assembly the openposition of the frame assembly as herein specifically described. Again,as discussed in conjunction with concave section 130, should bars 160become worn or damaged so as to require replacement or repair,nut-and-bolt fasteners 92, 94, and 98, as illustrated in FIG. 8, aresimply removed, and frame 52 is pivotally moved downwardly to the openposition as in FIGS. 14 and 15. If desired, nut-and-bolt assemblies 78in FIG. 2 connecting members 74 and 76 may be removed along withnut-and-bolt assembly 98 connecting ends 85 and 87 of members 74 and 76to frame 51 to release frame 52′ from frame 52″ as in FIG. 12 to allowindependent pivotal movement of frames 52′ and 52″ from open positionsas in FIG. 22 to the closed positions as in FIG. 13, at which point thevarious nut-and-bolt assemblies 92, 94, 78, and 98, depicted in FIG. 2,may be re-installed to secure concave section 150 in the closed positionin FIG. 13 in preparation for threshing. With this arrangement,nut-and-bolt assemblies 78, 92, and 98 may be removed to release frame52′ from frames 51 and 52″ to allow pivotal movement of frame 52′ fromits closed position to its open position independently of frame 52″ toallow a user to service bars 160 of frame 52′, after which frame 52′ maybe pivoted back to its closed position and secured via nut-and-boltassemblies 78, 92, and 98 to frames 52″ and 51. Moreover, nut-and-boltassemblies 78, 94, and 98 may be removed to release frame 52″ fromframes 51 and 52′ to allow independent pivotal movement of frame 52″from its closed position to its open position independently of frame 52′to allow a user to service bars 160 of frame 52″, after which frame 52″may be pivoted back to its closed position and secured via nut-and-boltassemblies 78, 94, and 98 to frames 52′ and 51.

The grate 170 of each bar 160 of concave section 150 includes eighteenaxially spaced parallel fingers. Bars having similar constructions withdifferent grate configurations can be used without departing from theinvention. As matter of example, FIG. 24 is a perspective view a bar 190formed with a grate constructed and arranged in accordance with analternate embodiment of the invention, FIG. 25 is a top plan view of theembodiment of FIG. 24, and FIG. 26 is a side elevation view of theembodiment of FIG. 24, the opposite side elevation view being the samethereof. Like bars 160, bar 190 shares ends 162 and 163, upper threshingedge 165, lower end 166, back 167, front 168, grate 170 formed ofaxially aligned parallel fingers 171, tongues 117A and 117B, andshoulder 180. In bar 190, grate 170 includes nine axially spacedparallel fingers 171, which are different in cross-section, which aresomewhat larger than fingers 171 of bars 160, and which are spacedfurther apart such that openings 175 of bar 190 are larger than openings175 of bars 160 for relating to larger grains.

In another example, FIG. 27 is a perspective view a bar 200 formed witha grate constructed and arranged in accordance with an alternateembodiment of the invention, FIG. 28 is a top plan view of theembodiment of FIG. 27, and FIG. 29 is a side elevation view of theembodiment of FIG. 27, the opposite side elevation view being the samethereof. Like bars 160 and 190, bar 200 shares ends 162 and 163, upperthreshing edge 165, lower end 166, back 167, front 168, grate 170 formedof axially aligned parallel fingers 171, tongues 117A and 117B, andshoulder 180. In bar 200, grate 170 includes six axially spaced parallelfingers 171, which are generally the same in cross section as in bar190, which are somewhat larger than fingers 171 of bars 160 and 190, andwhich are spaced further apart such that openings 175 of bar 200 arelarger than openings 175 of bars 160 and 190 for relating to even largergrains.

The invention has been described above with reference to preferredembodiments. However, those skilled in the art will recognize thatchanges and modifications may be made to the embodiments withoutdeparting from the nature and scope of the invention. Various changesand modifications to the embodiments herein chosen for purposes ofillustration will readily occur to those skilled in the art. To theextent that such modifications and variations do not depart from thespirit of the invention, they are intended to be included within thescope thereof.

Having fully described the invention in such clear and concise terms asto enable those skilled in the art to understand and practice the same,the invention claimed is:
 1. A method of assembling a concave for anagricultural combine, comprising: providing a first frame, threshingbars, and a second frame movable between a first position spaced apartfrom the first frame and a second position juxtaposed on either side ofthe first frame, the second frame being in the first position;non-destructively connecting each of the threshing bars to the firstframe via an engagement assembly thereby allowing independentnon-destructive removal of the threshing bars relative to one anotherfrom the first frame via the engagement assemblies while the secondframe is in the first position, the threshing bars being spaced apartforming openings therebetween for grain to pass through; and moving thesecond frame from the first position to the second position juxtaposedon either side of the first frame while leaving the threshing barsnon-destructively connected to the first frame via the engagementassemblies, the second frame thereby interacting with the threshing barson either side of the first frame alone restraining independentnon-destructive removal of the threshing bars from the first frame viathe engagement assemblies.
 2. The method according to claim 1, furthercomprising releasably securing the second frame to the first frame. 3.The method according to claim 1, wherein the engagement assemblies eachcomprise a tongue-and-groove assembly.
 4. A method of assembling aconcave for an agricultural combine, comprising: providing a frame,threshing bars, and stops movable between a first position spaced apartfrom the frame and a second position juxtaposed on either side of theframe, the stops being in the first position; non-destructivelyconnecting each of the threshing bars to the frame via an engagementassembly thereby allowing independent non-destructive removal of thethreshing bars relative to one another from the frame via the engagementassemblies while the stops are in the first position, the threshing barsbeing spaced apart forming openings therebetween for grain to passthrough; and moving the stops from the first position to the secondposition juxtaposed on either side of the frame while leaving thethreshing bars non-destructively connected to the frame via theengagement assemblies, the stops thereby interacting with the threshingbars on either side of the frame alone restraining independentnon-destructive removal of the threshing bars from the frame via theengagement assemblies.
 5. The method according to claim 4, furthercomprising releasably securing the stops to the frame.
 6. The methodaccording to claim 4, wherein the engagement assemblies each comprise atongue-and-groove assembly.
 7. A method of assembling a concave for anagricultural combine, comprising: providing a first frame, threshingbars each including an integrated separating grate, and a second framemovable between a first position spaced apart from the first frame and asecond position juxtaposed on either side of the first frame, the secondframe being in the first position; non-destructively connecting each ofthe threshing bars to the first frame via an engagement assembly therebyallowing independent non-destructive removal of the threshing barsrelative to one another from the first frame via the engagementassemblies while the second frame is in the first position, thethreshing bars being spaced apart forming openings therebetween forgrain to pass through, and the separating grate of each of the threshingbars extending across an adjacent one of the openings for separatinggrain from threshed crop material; and moving the second frame from thefirst position to the second position juxtaposed on either side of thefirst frame while leaving the threshing bars non-destructively connectedto the first frame via the engagement assemblies, the second framethereby interacting with the threshing bars on either side of the firstframe alone restraining independent non-destructive removal of thethreshing bars from the first frame via the engagement assemblies. 8.The method according to claim 7, further comprising releasably securingthe second frame to the first frame.
 9. The method according to claim 7,wherein the engagement assemblies each comprise a tongue-and-grooveassembly.
 10. A method of assembling a concave for an agriculturalcombine, comprising: providing a frame, threshing bars each including anintegrated separating grate, and stops movable between a first positionspaced apart from the frame and a second position juxtaposed on eitherside of the first frame, the stops being in the first position;non-destructively connecting each of the threshing bars to the frame viaan engagement assembly thereby allowing independent non-destructiveremoval of the threshing bars relative to one another from the frame viathe engagement assemblies while the stops are in the first position, thethreshing bars being spaced apart forming openings therebetween forgrain to pass through, and the separating grate of each of the threshingbars extending across an adjacent one of the openings for separatinggrain from threshed crop material; and moving the stops from the firstposition to the second position juxtaposed on either side of the framewhile leaving the threshing bars non-destructively connected to theframe via the engagement assemblies, the stops thereby interacting withthe threshing bars on either side of the frame alone restrainingindependent non-destructive removal of the threshing bars from the framevia the engagement assemblies.
 11. The method according to claim 10,further comprising releasably securing the stops to the frame.
 12. Themethod according to claim 10, wherein the engagement assemblies eachcomprise a tongue-and-groove assembly.